Photo Caption: Ruthie with her husband Fred Wahl, son-in-law Warner Off `98, daughter Emma, and grandchildren Bert `36 and Florence `36 after she received the University of Cincinnati Alumni Association, Robert Dobbs Service Award this past April.
While Ruthie Keefe has had connections to the Cincinnati Country Day School community her entire life, it wasn’t until her grandchildren – Florence Off `36 and Bert Off `36 – started attending school at Country Day that she felt the relationship really began.
“There are three things that I was pleasantly surprised about when I dropped the grandkids off on that first day of preschool,” says Ruthie. “First, I wasn't the only grandparent nor the oldest; second, it was so wonderful to see all the different types of families that were entering the school with me; and third, the teachers are incredible and what they do to support the kids, and their families is clearly unmatched.”
For Ruthie, as is the case for many Country Day family members, the teachers are more than “just” teachers; they have also become friends of hers who talk football during the Bengals’ season and stop to chat during school events.
“They embrace me as much as I embrace them. They know how important the family structure is, and they truly love the kids. Just having a degree doesn’t mean anything, it’s living the life and walking the walk, and I see that in the teachers every day at Country Day.”
And this sense of community – of family – is what compels Ruthie to give.
“What drives me to support an organization is that I can actually see the dollars at work in a very effective way, and that is absolutely the case with Country Day,” says Ruthie. “I’m a firm believer in time, talent, and treasure, and we need all three to make a school great. But at the end of the day, you need treasure to keep the lights on and I am fortunate that I can give my treasure.”
Ruthie certainly knows a thing or two about the impact of giving of one’s time, talent, and treasure.
She is known around the city as a major mover and shaker in the world of fundraising, serving as a past president of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as well as a board member for USO Cincinnati and the Lindner Center of Hope’s Guild (High Hopes), among other volunteer efforts. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the University of Cincinnati Foundation and the immediate past chair of the UC Alumni Association.
“It sounds like a lot but when you grow up in a family where the importance of philanthropy was taught and encouraged, it's almost second nature to give back in some fashion. And I get to support the organizations – like Country Day – that mean so much to me. It's all been great fun.”
Photo Caption: Ruthie Keefe with her grandchildren Florence and Burt.